Upholstery construction



june 28, 1932.

A. M. BANK UPHOLSTERY CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 12. 1931 7 TORNEYJ.

Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT M. BANK, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T SYLVIA BANK, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY UPHOIiSTERY CONSTRUCTION Application filed February 12, 1931. Serial No. 515,216.

This invention relates to upholstery construction and is directed to-spring bottoms for chairs, couches, davenports andlike articles of furniture, and accessories therefor.

An object of my invention is to provide in an upholstery construction of the character described wherein a plurality of foundation springs are supported on a webbing or the like support, a highly improved accessory for attaching said webbing or support to the frame, said accessory having means for providing a flexible or resilient connection between the frame and the tops of the foundation springs, to effectively prevent tearing or breaking of the tie cords connecting said springs to said frame.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a structure of the character described, an accessory comprising a single member adapted to be attached to frames of various heights and to which may be attached the webbing and a rod for anchoring the tie cords, said accessory having a pointed plunger portion for piercing the webbing to facilitate attachment of the webbing to the frame. 7 Still another object of my invention is to provide a simple, neat, rugged upholstery construction of the character described which shall be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and yet practical and eflicient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in' the construction herein- 0 after described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention, in the form of a spring bottom for a furniture seat;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an attachment accessory embodying the invention and employed in the upholstery structure shown 53 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a side, elevational view of a modified construction attached to a frame.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates an upholstery structure embodying the invention here shown, for the purpose of illustration, in the form of a spring seat, comprising a frame 11 made of wood or any other suitable material. The frame 11 comprises a front wall 12, side walls 13 and 14 and a rear wall 15. The seat 10 as here shown is provided with a plurality of foundation springs 14 suitably spaced and arranged and supported on a Webbing 15a. The webbing may comprise a single flexible sheet of textile material or interwoven strips, or plates or rods underlying the foundation springs. For the purpose of illustration only, the webbing is here shown in the form of a one-piece webbing provided with a folded-over portion 16 around the perimeter thereof forming a sleeve for a stiffening member such as wire or rod 17 disposed therein. The webbing 15a may be directly attached to the frame 11 or by means of small coil tension springs connected to the webbing and frame at the ends thereof respectively.

A dominant feature of my invention is the provision of a highly improved accessory 20 for attaching the Webbing either directly or by means of coil tension springs 18 to the frame. As shown in the drawing for the purpose of illustration, the front edge of the webbing is attached directly to the frame and the side and rear edges of the webbing are attached to said frame by means of a plurality of spaced springs 18. Each spring bottom or seat 10 is provided with a plurality of spaced members 20 attached to the inner surface of the frame in vertical position. Each of said members 20 is preferably made of metal such as round wire or rod stock and comprises a single integral suitably shaped and stamped piece. Said member 20 comprises a flattened intermediate portion 21 adapted to lie flat against the inner surface 22 of the frame. Extending downwardly from the portion 21 is a humped portion 23 bent away from said surface 22 and forming an eye for the purpose hereinafter described. Projecting downwardly from the portion 23 is a portion 24 aligned with portion 21 and adapted to contact said surface 22 and extending to the lower edge 25 of the frame. Extending outwardly from said portion 24 is a flattened portion 26 adapted to contact the underside 25 of said frame. The portions 21 and 26 are preferably formed with openings 21a and 26a respectively for receiving fastening means such as nails for attaching the member 20 to the frame. Extending upwardly from the portion 21 of said member 20 is an outwardly bent portion 27 and extending upwardly from said bent portion 27 is a portion 28 substantially parallel to the portions 21 and 24 and hence adapted to be disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from the surface 22 of the frame. The arm 28 terminates at the upper end thereof in a looped portion 29 forming a second eyelet for the purpose described below.

In attaching the webbing 15a to the frame, a plurality of members 20 are employed, said members being attached to the inner surface of the frame at spacedpoints thereon by means of nails or the like fastening means 30 extending through said openings 21a and 26a. The members 20 attached to the side walls 13 and 14 and the rear wall 15 of the frame, receive the outer ends 31 of the springs 10 through the eyelets 33 formed by the humped portions 23. The opposite ends 34 of the springs 18 preferably engage the wire.

rod 17 at the outer edge of the webbing. At the front of the frame the wire rod 17 extends through the eyelets 33 formed by the loop portions 23, of the members 20 attached to the front wall 12. The portion 26 of each member 20 is preferably formed at the end thereof with a point 35 whereby said portion 26 acts as a plunger for piercing the webbing 15a adjacent the front edge thereof.

'A staple 40 may be driven into the inner surface of the frame in position for receiving. the arm 28 of the member 20 therethrough. Preferably, the staple 40 is disposed somewhat below the loop 29. It will be noted that the u per portions 28, 29 of the member 20 may e moved outwardly until said portion 28 strikes the staple. In usual practice the upper convolutions 42 of the foundation springs 14 are usually tied or anchored to the frame 11 by means of tie cords. In accordance with my invention I insert through the loops,29 of the members 20, a rod 43, the latter preferably extending around the entire perimeter of the frame. The tie-cords 44 may then be tied to the rods 43 along any part thereof and then tied to the upper convolutions 42 of the springs 14. Thus, when the load is taken off the seat, the foundation springs expand and exert a sudden pull on the tie-cords 44. The spring arms 28 act as in snapping and tearing of the same, is efi'ec- I tively eliminated.

The members 20 may be used in conjunction with frames of any height, since the height at which the staple 40 may be attached to the frame may be varied.

As will now be obvious, the member 20 is extremely simple and rugged in construction, easy and cheap of manufacture and yet practical and eflicient to ahigh degree.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a modified construction wherein a member replaces the staple 40. Said member 50 is preferably made of an elongated flat strip of metal properly stamped and shaped to form a portion 51 contacting the upper surface 52 of the frame 11. The member 50 further comprises a portion 53 adapted to contact the inner surface 22 of said frame. Interconnecting said portions 51 and 53 is a looped or curved corner portion 54 for the purpose hereinafter described. Extending outwardly from the lower end of said portion. 53, at right angles thereto, is a portion 55. The lower end of portion 53 and the adjacent part of portion 55 are formed with a slot 56 through which extends an arm 28 of the attachment member- 20. A fastening member such as a nail 57 may be driven through an opening 58 in said portion 51; and a nail or similar fastening member 60 may be driven into the frame through the slot 56 for attaching said member 50 to the frame. It will be noted that with the construction shown in Fig. 5, an additional loop 54 is provided, which may receive the rod 43 for the tie-cords 44. The loop 29 at the upper end of the arm 28 may then be used for attaching an additional spring for supporting the web or may receive an additional rod 43 for the tie-cords.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not 1n a limiting sense.-

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

-1. An attachment member for an upholstery frame, comprising a portion adapted to contact the underside of the frame, a portion adapted to contact the inner surface of the frame, a portion interconnecting said first mentioned portions and bent away from said second portion to form, with the frame, an eyelet for receiving an object therethrough, said first and second portions being formed with openings for receiving fastening means for attaching said member to the frame, and a portion extending upwardly from said second portion and bent away therefrom to form a free spring arm, said spring arm having means for attachment of the tie cords of the upholstery.

2. In combination with a frame for an upholstered seat, an attachment member comprising a portion fixed to the frame, and a free resilient arm extending upwardly from said portion, said resilient arm having provision for the attachment of the cords of said upholstery seat.

3. In combination, a frame, a plurality of foundation springs, means for supporting the bottom portions of said springs, and means for attaching said supporting means to said frame, said last named means comprising a plurality of spaced members attached to the frame, each of said members having a spring arm, an elongated member attached to said spring arm and tie-cords attached to the top portions of said foundation springs and to said elongated member.

4. In combination with a frame, a member having a portion contacting the inner surface of the frame and a portion contacting the undersurface of said frame, means for attaching said member to said frame, said member having an arm extending upwardly therefrom, a second member having a portion contacting the upper surface of said frame and a portion contacting said inner surface of said frame, and a portion extend ing outwardly from the lower end of said last portion and formed with an opening, said arm extending through said opening.

5. In combination with a frame, a member having a portion contacting the inner surface of the frame and a portion contacting the undersurface of said frame, means for attaching said member to said frame, said mem her having an arm extending upwardly therefrom, a second member having a portion contacting the upper surface of said frame and a portion contacting said inner surface of said frame, a portion extending outwardly from the lower end of said last portion and formed with an openin said arm extending through said opening, t e corner portion of said second member joining said first and second portions thereof, being looped, and the upper end of said arm being formed with a loop.

6. In combination with a frame for the seat of upholstered furniture, an attachment member comprising a portion fixed to the inner surface of said frame, a portion extending'from the lower end of said first portion attached to the undersurface of said frame,

and a free resilient arm extending upwardly from said first portion, said arm terminating in a loop forming an opening adapted to receive means for limiting the upward movement of an element of the seat.

7. In combination with a frame for the seat of upholstered furniture, an attachment member comprising a portion fixed to the frame and a spring arm extending from said portion, said spring arm having means for the attachment of the tie cords of the upholstery, and a member attached to the frame having an opening receiving said spring arm therethrough, said opening being large enough to permit limited free movement of said spring arm.

8. In combination with a frame for the seat of upholstered furniture, an attachment member comprising a portion fixed to the frame and a spring arm extending from said portion, and a member attached to said frame having an opening receiving said arm therethrough, said opening being large enough to permit limited free movement of said spring arm, said arm being formed with a loop portion forming an opening adapted to receive means for limiting the upward movement of an element of the seat.

9. In combination, a frame and an attach-.

ment member therefor, comprising a pair of spaced portions adapted to contact the inner surface of said frame, a portion interposed between said first two portions forming an eyelet. for receiving an object therethrough, a portion extendingfrom one of said pair of portions contacting the under surface of said frame, and an arm having a free end portion extending away from the other of said pair of portions, webbing secured to the underside of said frame, a foundation spring on said webbing and means interconnecting said spring with said free end portion of said arm.

10'. In combination, a frame, an attachment member having a portion attached to the inner surface of said frame, a free arm extending upwardly from said portion, and an eyelet portion, webbing secured to said eyelet portion, a foundation spring mounted on said webbing and a flexible member interconnecting a 'portion of said foundation spring with said arm.

11. In combination, a frame, an attach-- ment member having a portion attached to the inner surface of said frame, a free arm extending upwardly from said portion, and an eyelet portion, webbing secured to said eyelet portion, a foundation spring mounted on said webbing, a flexible member interconnecting a portion of said foundation spring with said arm, and a member attached to said frame having an opening receiving said arm therethrough.

12. An attachment member for an upholstery frame having webbing made of round stock, comprising a ortion adapted to contact the underside of the frame, a portion adapted to contact the inner surface of the frame, and a humped portion intercon- 5 necting said first mentioned portions and bentaway from said second portion to form,

with the frame, an eyelet for receiving an object therethrough, said first and second portions being flattened and provided with openings for receiving fastening means for attaching said member to the frame, said first portion having a pointed end to permit the game to be readily passed through said webm 1% testimony whereof I aflix m signature.

- ALBERT BANK. 

